Cameroon soccer club coach kidnapped in restive Anglophone region

Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 07:21:41|Editor: Yamei

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YAOUNDE, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Head coach of Cameroonian first division club PWD Bamenda, Augustine Choupou, was kidnapped on Friday in Northwest, one of the two war-torn English-speaking regions of Cameroon, club officials said.

"Augustine was abducted this morning (April 5) by unidentified gunmen. This happened during a training session at Big Mankon Catholic School Field," the club president Pascal Abunde said in a statement released Friday evening.

"We strongly condemn this act which is detrimental to peace building and bonding. We call for his immediate release," Abunde added and stressed that football remains apolitical and should not be used by "whosoever for personal gains".

Choupou just assumed duty as head coach of the club five days ago.

The abduction of Choupou came barely weeks after Emmanuel Ndoumbe Bosso, head coach of another first division club, Young Sports Academy (YOSA) was kidnapped in the same city.

The clubs are based in the city of Bamenda, chief town of Northwest, where separatists have been fighting government forces for close to 3 years in a bid for independence.